Table 4 Perspectives and opinions of utilisation of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results in the treatment of malaria: among 63 health workers at 21 lower level health facilities in Uganda

Accuracy of test kits

Health workers believe in the results of RDTs, particularly positive

[45 respondents (71%)]

RDTs can miss a case of malaria (false negative)

[32 respondents (51%)]

I believe that RDT positive results are truly positive [58 respondents (92%)]

I believe that RDT negative results are truly negative

[31 respondents (49%)]

Practice of treatment

I do not treat all RDT positive patients with anti-malarials

[28 respondents (44%)]

I treat febrile patients with anti-malarials despite of negative test results because a negative RDT result does not exclude malaria [23 respondents (37%)]